Plant for molding creams and the like



Nov. 11, 1930. s v Er AL PLANT FOR MQLDINGV CREAMS AND THE LIKE FiledMay 29, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 San/ 4 R. BMKE!" w. E fPresco'H R. SAVY ETL PLANT FOR MOLDING CREAMS AND 'THE LIKE Nov. 11, 1930.

Filed May 29, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 11,1930. 7 R. SAVYUAL 1,781,345A PLANT FOR MOLDING GREAMS AND THE LIKE Filed May 29, 1928 5Sheets-Sheet '5 Nov. 1-1, 1930. R. SAVYFT AL 1,781,345

PLANT FOR MOLDING CREAMS AND THE LIKE Filed May 29, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet4 gqaesww Nov. 11, 1930. w R. SAVYFI' AL 1,781,345

PLANT FOR MOLDING CREAMS AND THE LIKE Filed May 29, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet5 1 Il a/97130715.

Baker w, E fPresca'h Patented Nov. 11, 1930 umrrsu STATES PATENT OFFICEROBERT SAVY, OF .cotinnEvoIn, FRANCE, AND GEORGE RALPH BAKER AND WILLIAM.nnwnnn rnnseorr, LONDORyE'NGLAND, ASSIGNORS T BAKER resume com-.IPANY,.INC., .OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN PLANTIFOR MOLDING CREAMS A'NDTHELIKE Applicatiomfiled May. 29,1 928, Serial No. 281,476, and inGreatBritain July 1, 1927.

This invention relates to the manufacture.

OfISWBGlJIIIBtllES, as for ex'ample creams, fondants, ipastilles :andthelike i (hereinafter referredzto as creams-) such asiare moulded orformed by the aid of starch or other stage in endless procession(continuously or intermittently) or in What may be termed a closedcircuit, and carrying out various steps of the treatment (includingtheprinting of the moulds, the depositing of the creams, passing the-mouldsthrough a drying chamber; dumping the contents of the mould trays,separating the creams and starch, preferably subjecting the'starchtoreconditioning treatment and refilling themoulds with starch andrestarting the cycle) during transitional movement or duringintermittent rest periods. )Vhere moulds other than starch moulds areused,-such.as1for example rubber moulds,'-the process comprisesdepositing the material (;e.1g. fond-ants).to bemoulded, subjecting thefondants to treatment in aidrying chambenfiexing or otherwise operating.upon themoulds to dump the contents andreturning the moulds to thedepositing position,

" aftercleaning, whensuch is desirable.

A feature of the invention 1 lies in the provision ofineansadapted toprintithermoulds' in the absence of relative transitional i movementbetween the starch and the dies, as by Y accelerating the dies totherate of travel of the moulds and maintaininga transitional movementofthe dies equalvto thatof the lnonldtrays during the printing operations.

The printing meansmay comprise a reciprocating mouldacarrier ora seriesor. endless chain ofmould carriers, one or more of which is or areoperated for printingpurposes in succession. p

A further feature of the invention applied 130': cases where the ltraystravel int-spaced relationship comprises the provision of means adaptedto aid in the reiillingrofithe trays withistarch by temporary filling orclosing upof theintervals between trays. According to one formi distancepieces or blocks may be adaptedprogressively tomesh or otherwise enteror fill the intervals between the traysifrom the underside duringtherefilling process.

Other features of. the invention concerned with the separation of thecreams and sifting orcleanin -operations will be referred tohereinafter.

In 1 the accompanying drawings 'Figure 1 isadiagrammatic side elevationof a planttaccording to-one form of the in vention for-moulding creamsin starch.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the left-hand. end thereof.

Figure 8 i is a sectional .view of the a righthand end ofthe plant seeni11.Figure..l,a 11d iguredis asimilar VlGWlllO Figure 1 of amodification and illustrating a form of starch reconditioning means.

Figureis a diagrammaticdetail plan of a brushing device for the creams.

Figure Sisa .fragmentaryelevation of a further modification.

Figures? and 8 are, respectively, elevation (partly in section) and anend view,.of one arrangement of a .mould printing machine according-tothe invention.

Figures 9 to 12 illustrate diagrammatically different-operativepositions of the mould-printing machine illustrated in .Figuresi7 and 8.

Figures 13, .14 and 15vare a side elevation, a sectional end view and afragmentary plan, of a modified form ofamouldprintingimachine.

andcream-depositing operations to be carried out (inthe present example)whilethe traysarein motion. A machine for printing the starch mouldscarried by the trays is seen at been printed at Bfhhe trays pass under acream-depositing machine C of known type adapted to charge'eac'h mouldduring the transit of the trays, a Y

The conveyor passes into a drying or maturing'l chamber D where it isgivenan extended travel by guiding it in a tortuous or lap-and-lap pathin "order that the cream may be subjected to a suitable dryingtemperature and conditions for an adequate period. As the conveyor isgiven a tortuous path it is necessary to provide some means formaintaining the trays from being emptied or their contents spilled whilethe conveyor'runs from one lap to another or passes round a guide rolleror- 7 chain wheels through an angle. For this purpose 'known means maybe provided for maintaining the trays horizontal While they are passinground a corner or from one lap to another. Or, alternatively, means maybe'provided whereby the trays are tilted slightly and projected at theturning point as described in British patent specification No. 293,725.I r

After leaving the drying chamber D the conveyor is caused to travel intoor over a position whereat the contents of the trays may be emptied andthe dried creams separated from the starch. The starch may be sifted andcleaned or otherwise reconditioned and passed to an appropriate positionfor refilling the trays.

The discharge of the trays, the separation of their contents and therecharging with starch, may be effected in a chamber or compartment,such as E. In this chamber means are provided for dumping the contentsof the trays and such may consist of means adapted to cause theinversion of the trays consecutively when they reach a suitable point,or where special means are provided for mam taining their horizontaltravel or tilting transferin the drying chamber'such means may beomitted or modified at the dumping position so that the traysare turnedover in going from one lap to another orv round'a B and will bedescribedhere inafter. After the starch in the trays 2 has abledelivery.

- According to one mode of discharging the trays (see Figure 1) theconveyor is guided in a pear of reaches or extensions E and E In thereach E the conveyor trays are guided over a polygonal roller member 3(such 7 as described in British patent specification No. 305,517) thefacets of which are of asuitable area to engage thebacks of the traysortray carriages and constitute a rotary support therefor. The uppersurfaces of the trays as they pass round the roller 3 are engaged by anendlesswire gauze belt a maintained in tension by a device such as d9.This wire belt at thepart adjacent or around the roller 3 acts as atemporary cover for the trays and holds the contents in position. Thewire belt has an extension 4 beneath the lap- E ofthe conveyor. Thisextension is sloped away from the conveyor so that as the trays travelround the roller 3 the contents is deposited upon the wire band andtravels to-' wards theend guide roller 4. v

' Inorder to ensure that the trays empty themselves upon the conveyor l-knocking or tapping devices 43 of any suitable kind may be provided. 7V 1 The creams (and any of the starch not sifted throughthe wire mesh49) are dis charged from the wire belt extension lover the roller 4towardsa guide plate 5 which directs the starch and creams on to a chute6 which is formed as a sieve and may, if desired, be given a vibrationalmovement. The creams roll or slide down the inclined chute 6 into adelivery chute 7 in passing down which they may be cleansed by anoscillating V or-other brushing device 8. The chute '7 is preferablyalso madein theform of 'a sieve so that any of the starch'which has notalready separated from. the creams is discharged on to a tailings chute9.

. The starch falling through the sieve chute 6 and from the wirebelt 49is collected in hopperlO (Figure 3) to which it may be directed by aidof ashield or plate 11. The hopper is adapted to discharge into a starchbox oisreceptacle E formed in the bottom of the chamber-E into whichthe'bight or extension E of'the conveyor passes for the rechargingof'the trays with starchj Accordingto one convenient mode of rechargingthe trays the starch box is provided, with a chain or band conveyor 12provided with pushers or scrapers. guided in a path (such as seen inFigure'3) This conveyor is across the top of the trays where they passunder a gap in a plate or bed 13 which co operates with the pushers orscrapersof the conveyor 12 to carry the starch from the bottom oi theboxup over thetray-conveyor.

As the trays are spaced one from another means are provided for filling.inl the: interval between the trays -While they arei beingfilled withstarch. Thesemeans comprise. an endless canvas' or like band 1 4 havingaseries of distance pieces orfblocks dd the size of Which exactlycorresponds With the interval between the trays 2 and the intervalsbetween which correspond with the spacing intervals ofthe trays. Theband 1% is passed round a pair of rollers and is drivenor takes itsdrive from the tray-conveyor so that each oi the blocks 'l l 'mesheswith atrayspace. It is arranged that asuitable number of the intervalsb-etvveen the trays are filled in \vhilethe trays are passing beneaththe starch-charging convyor 12; As the blocks 14? mesh with thetrayintervals softhat thesurface of the blocks is flush vvith the surfaceofthe trays,

the-scrapers passover' the trays and blocks laterally causing them to bechargd with starch and at the same time strickle the tops ofthe trayslaterally. In addition to-the lateral strickling device the starchcharges may be strickled longitudinally by a strickling device (such as15) suitably positioned.

If desired, as thetrays are being charged they may pass over a vibratingtable 16 adapted tosettle and level the starch charges.

As the tray-conveyor leaves the starchcharging position it passes rounda guide roller '1'? Where means are preferably provided for maintainingthe trays horizontal. The charged traysarereturned through-or beneaththe drying chamber D back to the position A of the chain conveyor Wherethe cycle of operations is recommenced.

The conveyor may be driven by any suitable means from one ormore points,for example an electric'motor 18 may be adapted to drive-the terminalroller 19, and ltWlll be understood that the tray-conveyor, the dryingchamber and other parts of the plant may be provided with ordinaryappurtenances and ancillary parts for carrying out the processdescribed.

"According to a modification (see Figure t) When the starchhas beenseparated from the creams it may be reconditioned andtlren passed to adevice adapted to recharge the trays Whichfif desired, instead of beinglocated in the chamber E may be positioned in front or the printing anddepositing positions (B andC, respectively). According to one form theconveyor passesfrom the drying chamber D overguice chains 20, polygonalroller 3 andguide rollers 21 and 22. The polygonal roller 3'operates inconjunction with a Wire mesh endlessband 4'. such as already describedin connection WithFigure 1. This band is adapted to receive the starchand creams from the trays which may be provided With tapping devices A.The starchis sifted through the wireband 4 and falls into collectinghopper E10 awhile the creams pass on to arbrnshing. device 18* beneathwhich a'hopper on invertedhood-SX is connected to i an veithaustingchamber "for carrying away .:the starch dust or .tailings.

The brushing device" maytcomprise L a pair of TSGTlGSIOf brushes 8 :and:8 1. (Figure :5) carried in'rframes and. adaptcdto ibe reciprocatecb byeccentric: or other tleviceslQS driven byappropriate me chanismso thatthe brushes are alternately reciprocated avithasa brushing action upon 1the creams: to remove adhering particles of starch.

The hopper 10 '(Figure l) :is discharged through a conduit 24 inavhichmay be located a screw or: other conveyorthe axis of whichisreprcsentetl: at 25. This conveyor: inayi discharge into a sifting box26 from iwhichxthe reconditioned starch may be conveyedlby ascrew-conveyor or other meansthrough conduit 27. The hopper .IO-andconduits 2-1 andfi? may be heated by any suitable means and orreconditioning heat may be acquired by the passage of thestarchthroughithe drying chamber D as indicated inFigure' l. lTheconduit 27: discharges into a starch conveyor and charging-device l2(similawto that already described in connection'rivith Figure 3 and towhich like reference numerals 'are applied). The charged itrays-as theypass towards the mould printing position B may lie operateduponlongitudinally by stricklers It will be seen that in -Figure 4 thetray-conveyor passesto the charging position through the upper portionoi the drying chamber 1) bya lap 28. ftccording toawmodified arrangementinstead of theconveyor passing in a downward direction around the roller3 (as shownin Figures l and 4) the conveyor may emerge fromthe dryingchamber D as at 29 (-see Figure 6) passing rounda chain Wheel 30, thepolygonal roller?) and another chain Wheel '31. Inthiscase a WllO meshbands: sifts thestarch into the box 10, a (lefiecting plate 32beingiprovidedto guardthe chain Wheel position 30. The creams arecarried under the brushing deViceS. In connection With-this brushingdevice or in connection with those already described, a hood 33 maybeprovidedivith a ventCA or a connection toan exhausting device adapted tocarry oil starch dustwhich may be subsequently collected. and returnedto the plant. In addition tlle brushes may have beneath them an exhausthopper 9.

In order that theprinting maytake place While the trays are moving Withthe conveyor, the dies may be'mountedupon swinging arms, slides,endless'moving-bands or belts or by other suitablemeans adapted toimpart tothe dies an acceleration and rate oftravel so that they possessa transitional-movement equal to th-atofthe trays. WVhen the speed ofthedies and the speediof-the trays areidentical then automatic meanscomeinto operation to perform the known printing functions. The

acceleration may be provided by suitable gearfrom the conveyor itself orbythe engagement thereof with a part carried by mecha-- nism associatedwith the .dies. g 1

. In Figures 7 and 8 a'printing machine according to the inventionhaving a single reciprocating die plate is illustrated. The die plate isindicated at 35 carried by a suitable wheeled carriage36 adapted totravel back and forth upon rails 37. "The die plate 35 may be remov'ablysecured in a carrier 38 which is adapted to reciprocate vertically inthe carriage 36 by the aid of guide posts 39 and is normally held intheelevated position by springs 40. The carriage isjreciprocated backand forth by bell crank levers 41. piv-' oted onshatt 42 and having abifurcated, part 43 the armsofwhich carry rollers 44 and 45. Theser'ollersare adapted to engage,respectively, cams 46 and 47 the cam 46being adapted'to cause the carriage to reciprocate from left to rightwhile the cam 47 is adapte ed. to'return the carriage to itsinitialposition. Cam46 is designed and adapted to ac- .celerate the carriage inmoving it from left to right so that at a suitable point in its travelits rate of motion equals that of the. tray with which the die plate 35is adapted to cooperate. The cams may be mounted upon a shaft--48 driventhrough any suitable train of gears 4950 conveniently fromthe chainwheel shaft'51. The die plate 35'is' adapted to-be depressed intoprinting contact with the starch in the tray by fixed cam plates 52(carried by suitable supports) which are adapted to engage rollers 53carried on bell crank levers 54 pivotally mounted upon the carrier 38 at55. The bell crank levers are. adapted to contact with lugs'56 on thecarrier 38 for the die plates 35 when the levers are being depressed.

For the purpose of causing the die plates to be vibrated while they arebeing removed from the starch afterprinting, a tapping or knockingdevice 57 is pivotally mounted upon the carrier having a pin 58 adaptedto run over a fixed toothed member 59 carried by an appropriate support.

In order to ensure a positive printing relationship between the dies and.the moulds during the printing operation the carrier 38 is providedwith depending slotted lugs 60 adapted to engage projections 61 formedupon the sides of the trays, As the dies are depressed thelugsGO engagethe projections 61 and maintain the dies in fixed relationship duringthe transference of the imprintot the dies to the starch and ensure avertical imprint and retreating movement.

Figures!) to 12 show the relative positions ofthe dies and moulds ortrays during the motions before, during and atter'printing.

In Figure 9 the carriage 36 has been'acceleratedto the speed oftravel'of'the trays 2 and the rollers 53 are about to engage the cams52. The curved parts of the cams engage the rollers 53 and cause thedies to be de-. pressed bringing the lugs 60 into engagement with theprojections 61 thusregistering the dies with the starch bed andmaintaining the proper printing relationship while at the same timeensuring a true vertical movement during the critical operation. As thecarriages pass forward the rollers 53travel from under the cam plates 52permitting the springs40 to raise the dies from'the printing starchmoulds. The commencement of the raising operation is seen in Figure 11and it will be-not'ed that 'during this time the backs of the dies aretapped by the device 57 as the 'pin 58 travels over the toothedmember59} Figure 12'shows thedies in the raised position after reversal of thecarriagehas taken place. The pivots 55 of the bell crank levers 54permit the rollers 53 to clear the curved end of the cam plates 52 inregaining the initial position of the carriage on the return stroke. 7

According to a modification printing may be effected by a-plurality ofdies mounted upon an endless travelling band or chain device, one, twoor more of the dies being 1ntended-to engage in printing associationwith V.

the starch at a time. According to this form (see Figures 13, 14 and 15)a pair of end- 7 less chains 62 supports a series of die-carriers 36having die plates 35. These die-carriers have front and rearrollers 63which travel on guiding. rails 64 which are also adapted to operate ascam tracks for causing the depression and elevation of the, die platesinto and out of printing. contact with the starch, and

-movernent of th edies. Each of the carriers may be provided with arapping or tapping device 57 'havi'ngheel pieces 57 which are adapted toengage a toothed rack device 59*. during printing or as the dies risefrom the printing position. The die chains62 may be driven by anyconvenient means, such as 65,

from the tray-conveyor chain wheel orother suitable source.

In carrying the: invention into eiiectwhe're the mot. on of the conveyoris intermittent instead of continuous throughout, means will ters Patentis 1. A plant for printing moulds whilst in motion comprising areciprocating carriage, dies mounted on said carriage, means foraccelerating the carriage to a speed of the moulds, a lined cam devicefor causing the depression of dies into the printing contact, means forraising the dies and means for returning the dies to their initialposition.

2. A plant for printing moulds whilst in motion comprising areciprocating carriage, dies mounted on said carriage, lever means foraccelerating the carriage to the speed of the moulds, a fixed cam devicefor causing the depression of dies into printing contact, resilientmeans for raising the dies and means for returning the dies to theirinitial position.

3. A plant for printing moulds Whilst in motion comprisingmould-carriers, and a reciprocating carriage having means foraccelera-ting the carriage to the speed of the moulds, die plate mountedon said carriage, printing dies supported by said plate, a fixed camdevice. for causing depression of the dies into printing contact,registration means upon the die-carriers and upon the mouldcarriers, sothat the printing association of the dies and moulds is preserved durlngthe printing operation, means for raising the dies and means forreturning the dies to their initial position.

1. A plant for manufacturing creams by i the aid of starch moulds intowhich the cream is deposited, comprising an endless conveyor adapted forcontinuous travel, a plurality of mould trays secured to the conveyor, astarch printing device comprising dies beneath which the mould traystravel, means for imparting transitional movement to the dies at thesame speed as that of the moulds during the printing operation, a trayinverting device for inverting the trays to deliver the starch andcreams to a separating device, and tray filling means whereat passingtrays are continuously recharged withistarch.

5. A plant for manufacturing creams as claimed in claim t, wherein themould trays are secured upon the conveyor in spaced relation, and anendless band having spaced slats secured thereto adapted to mesh withand close the spaces between the mould trays while the latter pass underthe starch filling device.

p 6.'.A.plant for manufacturing creamsas claimed. in claiml wherein thechest are mounted 1113011: a reciprocating carriage,meansfor-accelerating the carriage to the speed oivtravel of the mouldtrays and returnii t e carriage after-the printingoperation, a hired camdevice and an abutment. associ-. ated with the diecar 'iages adapted toengage the cam to cause depression ofthe, dies into printing contact. y

T. .A plant for manufacturing. creams as claimed in claim a; whereinthe. dies are mounted upon a reciprocating carriage, meansforuaccelerating the carriage tow the speed' ofitravel ofthe mould traysand returning the carriage after the printing operation, a fixed camdevice, an abutment associated with the carriage adapted to engage thecam to cause depression of the dies into printing contact, andinterengaging means upon the die member and upon the mould trays adaptedto prevent relative transitional movement during-the printing operation.

8. In plant for manufacturing creams as claimed in claim a a dieplatemounted forvertical relative movement upon a reciprocatingcarriage, a bell crank lever one arm of which is connected to thecarriage, a pair of rotary cams engaging the other arm, a drivingconnection between the rotary cams and the tray conveyor, a fixed cam, aroller on the die plate adapted to engage the cam to cause clepressionof the die plate into printing contact, and interengaging means upon thedie plate and the mould trays adapted to prevent relative transitionalmovement during the printing operation.

9. In a plant for manufacturing creams as claimed in claim 4, areciprocating carriage, a die plate mounted on said carriage and adaptedfor vertical movement relatively thereto, a bell crank lever one arm ofwhich is connected to the carriage, a pair of rotary cams engaging theother arm, and adapted to cause back and forth movements of thecarriage, a fixed cam, an abutment on the die plate, a lever pivotallymounted on the die plate and adapted to engage the abutment,

a roller carried by said lever and adapted to engage the fixed cam tocause depression of the die plate into printing contact, a pair offingers on the die plate and projections on the mould trays adapted tobe engaged by said fingers to prevent relative transitional movementduring the printing operation and ensure vertical depression and raisingof the dies in commencing and terminating the printing operation.

10. In a plant for manufacturing creams as claimed in claim tinterengaging means on the printing device and the mould trays forpreventing relative transitional movement duringthe printing operation.

11. In a plant for manufacturing creams as claimed in claiminterengaging means on the printingdevice and the mould trays, s adaptedto ensure the Vertical depression and raisingof the printing device incommencing 'andterminating the printing operation; 5 12. A plant formanufacturing creams as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mould trays aresecured upon the conveyor in spaced relation, characterised by means oftemporarily blocking said spaces While the moulds are being filled Withstarch.

' Intestimon'y'whereof We have signed our names to this specification. I

' ROBERT SAVY. Y

GEORGE RALPH BAKER. 3-,- WILLIAM EDWARD PRESCOTT..

